K2 Spyre 110

Our test team put this one into the top tier for its strong skiing skill set and straightforward fit. It’s a no frills, no fur, firm feeler that grabbed our testers and took them on an all-mountain jaunt. Keep in mind that this medium width performer has a svelte twin, the 97mm Spyre 110 LV. That has tested similarly well in the past but our testers really liked this 100mm version for its fit versatility and on-snow demeanor.

Testers said that the initial fit was vexingly tight in the toebox but that the Intuition liner quickly mellowed to a fit that sits just on the snug side of the medium-width average. A few testers with wider feet performed a full heat-mold on the highly adaptable liner and were pleased with the amount of relief they achieved. The flex feel is firm, our crew said, and they liked that for aggressive pounding on- and off-piste.

The cuff is lower than most and with the rear spoiler installed, some of our testers felt it was a little too forward. Without it, though, they thought it was too upright. What to do? Luckily, the spoiler is easily grindable to half-thickness—or anywhere in between—to achieve a Goldilocks fore-aft stance.

Quick lateral transitions and a snappy flex feel helped propel testers toward higher speeds and through unpredictable terrain with confidence. It also drove performance scores into the highest echelon among Traditionalist entries.